Machine for sealing containers



Dec. 31, 1940. I AHANDERSON 2,227,171

MACHINE FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J0 j J7 Pz'jd 11 I Z 1 I0 1 2 J i a Y I/wawr F BB hm WJQ D86- 31, A H ND ON 2,227,171

MACHINE FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmmm II In Dec. 31, 1940. A, ANDERSON 2,227,171

MACHINE FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug, 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 firr emsys 1940- A. H. ANDERSON 2,227,171

MACHINE FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 5, 1940 4 Sheets'-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,227,171 7 MACHINE FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Algot H. Anderson, Denver, 0010., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,921

Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a machine for applying a sealing tape to a container.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for afixing the end of an adhesive tape to a rotating container, pressing the tape into sealing engagement with the container as it rotates, and for cutting the tape so that the ends are lapped and firmly joined.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above type wherein a tape applying roller for affixing the tape end to the container and the tape roll are both mounted on a plate movable toward the container when the tape end is affixed thereto, so that the tape is drawn from the roll slowly by the rotation of the container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tape applying mechanism of the above type wherein the tape applying roller is withdrawn after the tape end is affixed to the container so as to permit a cutter to be operated for cutting the tape between tape applying roller and the container after a sufficient length of tape has .been drawn past the tape applying roller for the sealing of the container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tape applying meohanism of the above type wherein the cutter is spring-actuated and is normally held raised above the tape so that when released in proper timing with the rotation of the container, the tape will be quickly out while moving, and wherein the cutter is immediately raised after its cutting operation to latched position so as to permit the tape applying roller to move forward to affix the projecting end of the tape to the next container to be sealed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tape applying mechanism wherein the presser roller is yieldingly moved into engagement with the tape as it is applied to the container for pressing the same into sealing engagement therewith, and wherein said presser roller is positively moved out of engagement with the tape after the cut end has been firmly attached to the container to facilitate the removal of the container.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is a front view of a machine embodying a tape applying mechanism with parts broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing more or less diagrammatically the supporting plate for the tape roll and the tape applying roller and its relation to the container cutter and presser roller, with said plate in its retracted position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the plate as moved forward so as to bring the end of the tape into engagement with the container; v

Fig. 5 is a front view of "the cutter operating mechanism;

l i Fig. 6 1s a side View of the cutter operating mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a side View of the presser roller and the supporting and operating means therefor;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Figure 7 Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of acontainer showing the first step in the application of the adhesive sealing tape thereto;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the container as rotated through part of its cycle and the tape applied thereto; V

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the sealing tape completely applied to the container, and

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view through a container with the sealing tape applied thereto.

The invention has been applied to the sealing of a container having an outside friction slip cover. A container of this type is illustrated diagrammatically at I. The cover is indicated at 2. Said cover is provided with a depending flange or skirt 3 which frictionally fits down over the body wall of the container. An adhesive tape 4 is applied to the container so that it laps on to the flange or skirt of g the cover and on to the body wall therebelow, thus not only securing the cover to the container, but sealing the joint between the cover and the container body. This tape extends all the way around the container and the ends thereof are lapped.

Theinvention is directed to a mechanism for applying the tape to the container. The tape which is indicated at T is projected forward so. that the end't thereof is brought into contact with the container and caused to adhere thereto. The first step in the attachment of the tape is indicated in Figure 9. The container is rotated and the tape is laid around the container and pressed thereagainst so as to make tight sealing engagement therewith all the way cover tightly on to the container and rotate the around. container for the application of the sealing tape In Figure 10, the tape has been laid part way around the container by the rotation of the container in the direction of the arrow. When the tape has nearly encircled the container, then it is out while it is still moving, so that the trailing end t of the tape will overlap the advance end 13. Thus it is that the container is completely sealed.

The mechanism for applying the tape to the container includes a means for chucking and rotating the container which may be of any de-- sired construction; Associated with the container rotating means is a supporting plate on which is mounted a tape roll-carrying an adhesive tape which is to be applied to the container for sealing the same in the manner described above. Also mounted on this supporting plate is a tape applying roller. The plate is pivoted and is moved by a spring so as to cause the end of the tape passing over the roller to be brought into contact with the container and caused to adhere thereto. It is the rotation of the container that draws the tape from the roll. As soon as the container is rotated so as to bring the attached endthereof into theregion of the presser roller, said roller moves forward and engages the tape and presses it firmly against the container for causing it to adhere thereto and seal the container. This presser roller is spring-pressed into engagement with the tape and is positively retracted by means of a cam to facilitate the removal and insertion. of a container for sealing. Located between the tape applying roller and the presser roller is a cutter which is mounted for vertical movement. The cutter is springpressed downward into contact with the tape for cutting the tape. Said cutter is latched in its 40 raised position and the cam releases the latch to permit the cutter to operate, after which another cam' returns the cutterto its raised position where it is held by the latch until released for the next cutting action.

45 Referring more in detail to thedrawings, a

50 shaft 6 carries at its lower end a chuck l.

portion of the supporting frame of the machine is indicated at 5. Mounted for rotation in the frame is a shaft 6 which isoperated in any suitable-way from the motor indicated at M. The

Beneath the. chuck 'l is a rotatable support 8 for the container. This rotatable support is supported in any suitable way on the frame, and the containers are fed one after another on to this support beneath the chuck. After the tape is applied to the container for sealing the same, then the container is removed from the plate so as to permit another container to be placed thereon for closing. The means for placing containers 69 on the support for sealing'and removing the same afterthey are sealed, forms no part of the present invention and has not been shown. A suitable means, however, which may be used for this purpose, is shown and described in the patent to 5 Louis C. Krummel and John C. Taliaferro, grant- 70 tainer by means of a yoke arm 9 carried by a shaft I0, which shaft carries a rock arm I.I provided with a cam roller running in a cam groove in a cam disk I2. After the container has been placed on the rotatable support 8, the chuck moves down 75 into-engagement therewith and will press the thereto. As soon as the tape hasbeen applied, then the shaft 6 is raised, lifting the chuck from the container and the sealed container is removed from beneath the chuck permitting another container to be sealed and placed on the rotatable support to be chucked..

Attached to the side of the frame 5 is a supporting bracket I3. Pivotally mounted on this bracket I3 is a supporting plate I4. Said plate is shown in plan View in Figures 3 and 4. The plate is pivoted at l5. A spring I6 is attached to the plate and also to an arm I6a carried by the frame. Said spring swings the plate in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. Mounted on this plate is a rotatable member I! which supports th roll of adhesive tape indicated at I8. An arm I9 pivoted at 26 carries a roller 21 which bears on the tape so as to prevent the tape roll from turning too freely. A spring 22 is secured to the arm i9 and to a post 23 carried by the plate I4. An adjustable screw 26 passes through the post and the spring is attached thereto. This serves as a means for increasing the tension of the spring and the pressure of the roller 2I against the outer face of the tape roll. Also mounted on the plate I4 is a tape applying roller 25. Said roller is mounted for rotation in any suitable way on the plate. The tape is led from the roll over a guide roller 26 which is preferably shaped like a frustrum of a cone with the base end upward. The purpose of this tapered surface is to maintain the tape in its travel close to the plate. After passing over the guide roller 26, the tape passes over a steel roller 21 and thence to the tape applying roller 25. A spring wire 28 carried by a post 29 bears lightly against the tape and holds the end thereof in contact with the roller 25. The adhesive surface of the tape is on the side thereof away from the guide rollers and the roller 25. The spring I6, as stated above, normally swings the supporting plate I4 in a counter-clockwise direction. On the under side of the table is a roller 30 which cooperates with the cam 3i mounted in a shaft 32. There is a stop 3 I a which limits the swinging movement of the plate under the action of the spring I6 when the cam 3| permits of a counter-clockwise movement of the plate, but the cam 3I functions to positively move the plate in a. clockwise direction. Thus it is that the tape applying roller is moved toward and from the container which is indicated at I in Figure 3 of the drawings. The end of the tape T projects beyond the end of the roller 25. The reason forthis will be stated later. After the container is placed on the rotatable support and chucked, and while it is rotating, the cam 3I moves so as to permit the supporting plate M to swing in a counter-clockwise direction under the action of the spring I6. This brings the tape end into contact with the container as shown in Figure 4, and the rotation of the. container will draw the tape over the tape applying roller and the guide rollers and off from the roll.

The shaft 32 is mounted in suitable bearings in the frame 5 and carries a sprocket wheel 33. A sprocket chain 34 runs over this sprocket wheel and over a sprocket wheel 35 on ashait 36 mounted in bearings in the upper portion of the frame. This shaft 36 carries another sprocket wheel 3'5 over which a sprocket chain 38 runs, and the sprocket chain 38 engages a sprocket wheel 39 on a shaft 46. The shaft 40 carries a bevel gear 4| meshing with a bevel gear 42 having a splined connection with the shaft 6, so that the shaft 6 may be reciprocated, and at the same time, the rotations of the shaft will be imparted to the gear 42 and thus the shaft 40 is rotated.

Associated with the tape applying roller 25 is a presser roller 43. This presser roller is a rubber roller, the purpose of which is to move into engagement with the adhesive tape for pressing it against the container as the container rotates, so that the tape will be caused to firmly adhere to the container and seal the same. This presser roller 43 shown in detail in Figures 7 and 8 is mounted for rotation on a stub shaft 44 carried by an arm 45 which in turn is pivoted for oscillation on a stub shaft 46 mounted in a supporting bracket 41 attached to the frame of the machine by suitable bolts 41a, 41a. The arm 45 is formed integral with a rearwardly projecting actuating arm 48. A spring 49 engages this arm 48 and also the frame and normally swings the arm 45 supporting the presser roller 43 so as to move it away from engagement with the adhesive tape. Mounted on the shaft 32 is a face cam 58. This face cam 58 engages a roller 5! carried by the arm 48. The face cam serves as a means for swinging the arm 48 to move the presser roller into positive engagement with the adhesive tape. This face cam comes into operation and moves the presser roller into contact with the tape on the container for the sealing operation. The spring 49 effects the retracting movement of the presser roller just prior to the lifting of the chuck for releasing the container. The operating face of the cam 50 is indicated at 50c.

Also associated with the tape applying roller is a cutter for cutting the tape. The cutter operating mechanism is shown. in detail in Figures 5 and 6. The cutter mechanism includes a blade 52 which is secured by suitable screws 53, 53 to a cutter supporting arm 54. Said arm 54 is pivoted at 55 to a bracket 56 carried by the frame 5. A spring 51 is attached at 58 to the cutter supporting arm and is attached at its lower end to a bracket arm 59. This spring is constantly tending to urge the cutter arm in a downward direction. Mounted on the shaft 32 is a cam 60. This cam 60 has a projecting nose 6| which is adapted at times to engage a roller 62 carried by a depending yoke 63 fixed to the arm 94. When the nose of the cam 6| contacts with the roller, the cutter arm will be moved to its raised position.

The cutter arm isnormally held in its raised position by means of a latch 64. Said latch is pivoted at 65 to the frame and is provided With a shoulder 66. The latch normally engages underneath a block 63a carried by the depending arm 63 and this restrains the cutter arm 54 from downward movement through the action of the spring thereon. A spring 61 bears against the latch and forces it toward the actuating arm. When the nose of the cam 6| raises the actuating arm 54 carrying the cutter to its extreme upward position, the latch is spring-pressed underneath the block 63o, so that when the nose of the cam passes the roller 62, said actuating arm will be held in its raised position. The cutter is in raised position when the container moves on to the support and is chucked and rotated. It remains in this raised position while the supporting plate l4 moves toward the container and causes the end of the tape to be attached thereto. At this time, the cutter is well above thepath of movement of the tape. As soon as the tape has been firmly secured to the container and is being drawn by the container from the tape roll, then the tape applying roller through the swinging of the plate l4 in a clockwise direction is moved away from the container, and this places the tape extending from the tape applying roller to the container directly beneath the cutter. When the container has nearly completed its rotation, then a projecting cam lug 58 contacts with the inclined face 69 of the latch and forces the latch to the left as viewed in Figure 5, thus releasing the cutter actuating arm. The spring 51 in which power is stored for operating the cutter actuating arm quickly moves the arm to its lower position, causing the cutter to pass through the tape, although the tape is moving at the time of the cutting thereof. The downward movement of the cutter arm is limited by the block 63a contacting with a shoulder (its. on the latch. The trailing end of the tape will be pressed against the container by the presser roller which is still contacting with the tape and the trailing end will be caused to lap on to the advance end of the tape and the sealing of the container will be completed. The presser roller is then retracted and the chuck moved so as to release the container, the rotation. of which will be quickly stopped by any suitable brake mechanism operating on the rotating support, and then the sealed container will be removed from the machine.

The operation of the machine is thought to be obvious from the description given above. filled containers with the ends applied are fed on to the rotatable support one after another.

.The rotating chuck is moved down into engagement with the container, clamping it against the support, thus firmly seating the cover on the container and causing the container to rotate with the chuck. The plate carrying the tape applying roller moves in so as to cause the projecting end of the adhesive tape to be affixed to the rotating container. It should be noted that the tape roll being mounted on the plate with the tape applying roller will move forward with the roller so that the portion of the tape projecting beyond the applying roller is not disturbed during this movement, and the tape as a whole will be carried bodily forward toward the container and attached thereto. The tape is applied so that it overlaps the joint between the cover flange and the can body, and as the can rotates after the tape is afiixed thereto, it will draw the tape from the roll and the tape will be placed in sealing contact with the container. After the aflixed end of the tape passes the presser roller, the presser roller moves in and yieldingly presses the tape against the container so as to cause it to adhere thereto. This presser roller is of rubber and will conform to any irregularities in the surface and cause the tape to be pressed firmly against both the cover skirt and the body of the container, even though the body of the container is of less diameter than the cover skirt. As soon as the presser roller is brought into engagement with the tape, then the tape applying roller moves away from the container, and in so doing, passes the tape beneath the cutter. It should be noted that the tape roll is under tension and, therefore, when the tape roll, together with the tape applying roller, moves away from the container, it will hold the tape taut and aid in the placing of the tape The beneath the cutter for the cutting of the tape. When a proper length of tape has been drawn from the tape roll beneath the cutter so that the tape ends will slightly overlap, the cutter is released, and will quickly operate to cut the tape, although it is moving. The presser roller is so near the cutter that the trailing end of the tape will be pressed against the container and the sealing of the container completed. The chuck then moves up, releasing the container, which stops rotating, and the take-away removes the container from the rotatable support and another container is moved on to the support for closing.

It is obvious that many changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, a plate movable toward and from the container means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, means for moving said plate to cause the roller to afiix the tape to said container, a presser roller movable into engagement with the tape for pressing the same against the container as it rotates, and a cutter for cutting the tape between the presser roller and the tape applying roller while the tape is moving.

2. A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, a plate movable toward and from the container means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, means for yieldingly moving the plate to cause the roller to afiix the tape to the container, a presser roller movable into engagement with the tape, and a cutter for cutting the tape between the presser roller and the tape applying roller.

3. A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, a plate movable toward and from the container means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, yielding means for moving the plate to cause the roller to aflix the tape to the container, and positive means for moving the plate so as to withdraw the tape applying roller from contact with the container, a presser roller movable into engagement with the tape pressing the same against the container as it rotates, and a cutter for cutting the tape between the presser roller and the tape applying roller.

4. A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, a plate movable toward and from the container, means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, a guide roller disposed between the adhesive tape roll and the tape applying roller over which the tape runs, said guide roller being tapered with the large end uppermost, so as to direct the path of movement of the tape close to the supporting plate for the tape roll.

5. A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, a plate movable toward and from the container means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, said container being rotated about a vertical axis, and said plate being movable in a horizontal plane, said tape roll being mounted on said plate so as to rotate about an axis at right angles thereto, a guide roller disposed between the tape roll and the tape applying roller for directing the tape to the tape applying roller, said guide roller being shaped so as to maintain the path of travel of the tape close to the plate.

6. A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, a plate movable toward and from the container means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, said container being rotated about a vertical aXis, and said plate being movable in a horizontal plane, said tape roll being mounted on said plate so as to rotate about an aXis at right angles thereto, a guide roller disposed between the tape roll and the tape applying roller for directing the tape to the tape applying roller, said guide roller being shaped so as to maintain the path of travel of the tape close to the plate, and means for applying tension to the tape roll so as to retard the unrolling of the tape.

7. A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, 2. plate movable toward and from the container means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, yielding means for moving the plate toward the container to cause the roller to affix the tape to the container, and means for moving said plate away from the container after the tape end has been arfixed thereto, a presser roller movable into engagement with the tape for pressing the same against the container as itrotates, yielding means for moving the presser roller into engagement with the tape, and positive means for retracting the presser roller after the tape has been secured to the container and the container sealed, and a cutter for cutting the tape between the presser roller and the tape applying roller.

8L A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, a plate movable toward and from the container means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted. on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, yielding means for moving the plate toward the container to cause the roller to affix the tape to the container, and means for moving said plate away from the container after the tape end has been affixed thereto, a presser roller movable into engagement with the tape for pressing the same against the container as it rotates, a spring-actuated cutter for severing the tape between the presser roller and the tape applying roller, a latch for holding said cutter raised, and a cam mechanism for releasing the latch to permit the cutting of the tape and for raising the cutter to latched position after the tape is severed,

9. A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, a plate movable toward and from the container means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, yielding means for moving the plate toward the container to cause the roller to aflix the tape to the container, and means for moving said plate away from the container after the tape end has been aflixed thereto, a presser roller movable into engagement with the tape for pressing the same against the container as it rotates, yielding means for moving the presser roller into engagement with the tape,

and positive means for retracting the roller after the tape has been secured to the container, a cutter for cutting the tape between the presser roller and the tape applying roller, a spring for operating the cutter to sever the tape, a latch for holding the cutter normally raised against the action of the spring, and a cam mechanism for releasing the latch for causing the tape to be severed and for returning the cutter to its latched position.

10. A machine for sealing containers comprising means for rotating the container, a plate movable toward and from the container means to mount a roll of tape on said plate, a tape applying roller mounted on said plate over which the tape is directed from the roll, means for moving the plate to cause the roller to aflix the tape to said container, a presser roller adapted to engage the tape and press the same against the container, and a cutter for cutting the tape including a pivoted arm for supporting the cutter, a spring for moving the arm to cause the cutter to sever the tape, a latch for restraining the movement of the arm under the action of the spring, a rotating disk, a projecting cam piece carried thereby for engagement with the latch for releasing the cutter so that the tape will be severed, and a projecting cam piece carried by said disk for raising the arm to latched position.

ALGOT H. ANDERSON. 

